UK: World First Medical Drone Delivery Service To Be Launched Between Cornwall and Isles of Scilly

Open Skies Network and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have announced a pioneering agreement for the adoption of an NHS medical drone delivery service in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Starting in 2025, this multi-year partnership will support the adoption of cargo drones. Initially, this will include delivery of things like pathology samples and medical supplies across the region. In the future, there will be discussions to explore the potential to use piloted electric aircraft for medical transport.

Gareth Whatmore, CEO at Open Skies Network, said: “From drone deliveries of testing kits and PPE during Covid, to the first long-haul and intra-island medical drone operations, our previous work in Cornwall has led UK capability for the NHS when it comes to drone-enabled healthcare logistics.

“This agreement — the first of its kind in the NHS — will see Open Skies Network and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust working together to adopt a model for drone-enabled, digitally integrated health and care logistics. This supports delivery of the 10-year Health Plan to move care out of hospitals into communities and make better use of technology to help healthcare teams focus on preventing sickness, not just treating it.

Geographic isolation and weather dependency present unique challenges when it comes to delivering equitable access to healthcare across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This agreement will be a boost to the existing transport infrastructure and the delivery of urgent diagnostics, medications, and specialist interventions.

Informed by work previously carried out as part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge programme, the landmark agreement will see Open Skies Network formalise take-off and landing locations and infrastructure for active medical drone use, in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

It will also pave the way for future adoption of piloted electric aircraft, creating a blueprint for a future-ready health and care system that can be replicated across urban, rural and island communities around the world.

Debbie Richards, Chief Executive at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “With 30 miles of water between the Isles of Scilly and the mainland, our region’s geography dictates that we do things differently. Our work with Open Skies Network is all about adopting new technology and helping the NHS to realise the benefits of drone technology and digital integration to deliver improved patient care and responsiveness.

“Whether it is same-day prescriptions and medical sample deliveries or supporting clinical teams to provide care closer to patients’ homes, reducing healthcare-related travel, our goal is to ensure timely access to care and resources, regardless of geography.”

Incorporating drone technologies into healthcare logistics supports a range of use cases that will improve outcomes for patients and clinicians alike, from delivering path lab samples more quickly and speeding up diagnoses, to improving acute and specialist care provision. It not only supports the NHS’s Net Zero ambitions but also offers real-world productivity savings.

Councillor Avril Mumford, Lead Member for Adults and Public Health at the Council for the Isles of Scilly, added: “This is exciting news for everyone on the islands, as our community often faces significant time and cost barriers when accessing health and care services.

“Recognition of our geographic challenges has led to some really innovative health and care service delivery over recent years, with our integrated neighbourhood teams already recognised as national trailblazers for their approach to the integration of health and social care.

“We look forward to supporting our NHS and Open Skies Network colleagues to further future-proof health and care services in the region to reduce the need to travel from the islands to the mainland for healthcare over time.”

The next stage of this work will focus on robust validation, including infrastructure and safety protocols. This will involve validation flights to ensure the right drones are selected to safely deliver supplies and meet the needs of the local community.